BP's Dudley: Time for 'scaleback' in Gulf cleanup

BP's incoming CEO said Friday it is time for a "scaleback" of the effort to clean up the Gulf of Mexico oil spill, but added there is no "pullback" in the energy giant's commitment to the disaster, the Associated Press reports.

Bob Dudley, who heads BP's oil spill recovery, told reporters in Biloxi, Miss., it's "not too soon for a scaleback" and in areas where there is no oil, "you probably don't need to see people in hazmat suits on the beach."

Dudley admitted that BP lacks expertise in handling claims to compensate fisherman and others who have lost income because of the worst oil spill in U.S. history. He said the firm hopes to turn that work over to an independent administrator soon, after many complained about long waits and problems with the process, the AP story says.

"It's because of that lack of competence on our part... that we want to bring in a professional," Dudley said.

BP announced that former Federal Emergency Management Agency head James Lee Witt will support its recovery efforts.

Meanwhile, efforts to permanently plug the Gulf of Mexico gusher hit a setback when crews found debris in the bottom of the relief well that must be completed before they can pump mud into BP's well from the top, Retired Coast Guard Adm. Thad Allen told reporters Friday during a press briefing.

The debris settled in the relief well last week when crews put in a temporary plug called a storm packer ahead of Tropical Storm Bonnie, Allen said.

The government's point man for the oil spill said they had hoped to start the static kill procedure as early as Sunday, but removing the debris will take 24 to 36 hours and push the kill back to Tuesday.

"It's not a huge problem, but it has to be removed before we can put the pipe casing down," Allen said.

The departing CEO Tony Hayward defended his tenure in saying that he was vilified for "doing the right thing," in an article published Friday in the Wall Street Journal.

"I do understand that people find it easier to vilify an individual more than a company," Hayward told the Journal in his first interview since announcing he would leave the position.

Hayward said he took responsibility for the spill, spending billions to stop the gushing oil and clean up the shore. He also made it clear that he wanted to continue as CEO but decided to go because it would hurt the energy giant's public image if he stayed, the Journal reports.

"In America, the road back will be long but I believe achievable when the whole truth of the accident finally emerges and the Gulf coast is restored..., " Hayward told the Journal. "BP can build faster in America without Tony Hayward as its CEO."

BP announced this week that Hayward would step down as CEO Oct. 1. After leaving, Hayward will become a board member at BP's Russia venture, TNK-BP.

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